MANILA,
JANUARY 29, 2010 (STAR)
With a surname such as Marcos, it might be easy for some to think that a
family member is all stern and serious. However, that thought should be reserved
only to people who have never met a Marcos. After all, the Marcos we met —Liza
Araneta Marcos — was a fun subject to interview.

As soon as she arrived, Liza asked if everybody had eaten. Sensing that the
people around her were probably too embarrassed to admit it, Liza immediately
requested her house help to bring in snacks. And then she sat back in the sofa
humoring her guests and bantering with her three kids Sandro, Simon and Vincent.

This was probably a welcome change of pace for the hard-working lawyer, who
wakes up early to go to the gym and then buries herself with work in her law
firm. “Now that it is election time again, as my husband Bongbong is running for
senator, I also look after his campaign. We have dinner and sometimes watch a
movie.”

She reveals that she is an insomniac. “I sleep at at least 2 a.m. I start
sending e-mails around that time as well,” she laughs.

But no, Liza does not consider her job stressful. She says, “It was stressful
in the beginning because I had to organize everything but with the associates
around, I just delegate tasks. I do love a good massage after work though. I am
a massage person.”

We complimented her skin, to which she laughed. “You know, my mother (the
former Milagros Cacho) taught me that less is more. I just use water to wash my
face. I don’t even use a toner, just lotion. That is all. Our family follows Fit
For Life though.”

When the subject turned to her family, Liza directs her eyes to her three
boys and playfully asks, “Am I a good mom?” The kids, who all attend boarding
school in England, jokingly roll their eyes. Liza bursts out laughing.

“How about as a wife? Bongbong is so easy to get along with,” she states.

Although the demands of election days are already here, Liza still wants to
be able to share her talents and expertise more. This is, after all, the same
person who taught Law in Northwestern University and Far Eastern University.

“I really want to go back to teaching Law,” she declares. “Maybe when I find
a suitable school to teach in.”

Asked to describe herself, she again calls out to her kids, “Describe me.”
They roll up their eyes again and laugh. Liza joins in the laughter and answers,
“I’m just simple and natural. That’s it.” — Lester Hallig